A NASTY hacking cough that “lasts a number of weeks” is plaguing Britain – but doctors have warned there’s nothing they can do to cure it.

The lingering condition – that is affecting hundreds of thousands of people up and down the country – is resistant to antibiotics, with sufferers urged to rest, drink plenty of fluids and eat healthy meals.

Brits have been plagued with a hacking winter cough (Picture posed by models)

Dr Anna Kuczynska told Wales Online: “We know there is a particularly nasty, persistent cough in the community that lasts a number of weeks and is leading a lot of people to attend their GP surgery.

“Unfortunately, in most cases, unless the patient has another underlying chronic condition for example, heart or lung disease or diabetes, there is often nothing the GP can do to help other than recommend resting and drinking plenty of fluids.”

She added: “Antibiotics will be of no help for most normally healthy people.

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“It’s only if you have other symptoms, such as a fever as well as a cough, or have problems breathing, or are vomiting, that we may need to investigate further.

“Coughs and colds simply have to run their course. There isn’t any prescribed medication which can shorten or cure them, and that includes antibiotics which are not effective on viruses, and are more likely to cause you problematic side effects.”